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Proposed Bill Would Apply FAA Pilot Fatigue Rule to Cargo Pilots

Three
U.S. Senators have introduced a bill designed to ensure that pilots of cargo
planes are operating under the same FAA pilot fatigue rules that apply to
passenger aircraft pilots. Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Maria Cantwell (D-WA)
and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) introduced the Safe Skies Act in the Senate earlier
this month, according to Occupational
Health & Safety. Both Democrats and Republicans in Congress have shown
support for the bill.

Legislation
to address pilot fatigue was passed following the 2009 Colgan Air crash outside
of Buffalo, New York, in which pilot fatigue was found to be a contributing
factor. That legislation, which will take effect in January of next year,
limits the amount of time that pilots of passenger planes can fly to no more
than nine hours. It also requires airlines to provide pilots with a10-hour rest
period before returning to duty, with an opportunity for at least eight hours
of continuous sleep. That legislation, however, only addresses pilot fatigue
for the pilots of passenger planes. The FAA exempted cargo plane pilots from
these rules, and as of now, cargo plane pilots are allowed to be on active duty
for as long as 16 hours a day.

"Flight safety should be our top priority,
regardless of what an aircraft is carrying" said House Representative
Michael Grimm (R-NY), sponsor of the bill. "Just because pilots are
transporting cargo instead of passengers, doesn't make them or the crew members
less tired after a long flight; the level of fatigue remains the same."

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